Pistol-whipped in home invasion

ARMED bandits terrorised three defenceless Barkers Vale residents during a horrifying home invasion yesterday before escaping with cash, electrical goods and property.

In 10 terrifying minutes, Rodger Simpson, 62, John Podkowka, 52, and Heather Simpson, 85, feared for their lives as at least four, possibly five, men stormed into the house about 11am.

Mr Simpson was beaten over the head with the butt of a black handgun before another balaclava-clad bandit held a machete to his throat and demanded money.

Mr Simpson was beaten to the ground while Mr Podkowka was made to lie on the floor with a gun at his head and a machete held to the back of his neck.

The men demanded money and drugs, which the men did not have.

The bandits stole Mrs Simpson’s TV and purse.

They also took wallets, watches, car keys, a DVD player, computer, camera, binoculars and mobile phones.

“It was all so quick it was unbelievable,” said Mr Simpson, who politely asked them to leave.

Mr Simpson initially thought they were lost tourists looking for directions when they pulled up.

His elderly mother, who has dementia, was sleeping as the bandits burst into the house.

“She kept trying to come out of her bedroom during the robbery, but we kept telling her to stay in her room,” he said. “I said, ‘Mum we are being robbed stay in your room’.

“They seemed to know what they were doing.

“I feel like I have been raped, invaded and assaulted.

“I am frightened of what they could have done to mum.”

Mr Simpson and Mr Podkowka raised the alarm at 11.20am, straight after the bandits had made their get-away.

Police from Nimbin and Kyogle responded immediately to the call and rushed to the property.

Shortly after arriving they called in crime scene detectives from Casino.

Mr Simpson was treated by paramedics at the scene for head injuries, facial lacerations and a bloodied nose.

Police are hunting four men described as extremely dangerous who were last seen leaving the Barkers Vale property along Williams Road in a purple stationwagon with a dent in the rear passenger side door.

Investigating detectives are following several lines of inquiry and are awaiting the results of forensic tests from evidence collected at the scene.

They are appealing to anyone who may have seen the vehicle in the vicinity of Williams Road to contact them immediately.

The bandits are all thought to be Caucasian.

The first suspect is des-cribed as 30 to 35 years old, 180 centimetres tall wearing a black, short-sleeved T shirt and carrying a black handgun.

The second is described as 18 to 22 years old, skinny build, olive complexion, short fair hair, wearing white shorts, no shirt and a balaclava.

The third is also thought to be 180 centimetres, medium build and was carrying a machete.

The last suspect is 16 to 17 years old, short dark hair, white shorts with a skinny build.